Continuous batch feeder control



May l2, 1953 G. D. ALvoRD CONTINUOUS kBATCH FEEDER CONTROL 4 Sheets-Shea Filed Jan. 5, 1947 May 12, 1953 G. D. ALVORD 2,638,248

CONTINUOUS EATON FEEDER CONTROL Filed Jan. 3, 1947 4 Sheets-sheet 2.

zzz l i? a( Q EN N f N y D 5 INVENTOR. BY GROVED/LVURD 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 G. D. ALVORD JROVE DA LVORD iw May 12, 1953 CONTINUOUS BATCH FEEDER CONTROL Filed Jan. 3, 1947 l l l l I l l I l l J Grove D. Alvord 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 G. D. ALVORD CONTINUOUS BATCH FEEDER CONTROL V I l l l l I l l INVENTOR BY /wm ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1953 UNITED STATES rarENT OFFICE Grove'- Df. Alvord, Indiana, Pa., assigner to Syntron; Company, Homer City, Pa., a corpm-ation otDelaWai-e application Januari? s, 1947, serial No. 720,043

8' Clair-Lisiy This invention relates generally to method and apparatus for material feeding' machines and more particularly to the method and apparatus' of a continuous batch feeder control for regu* lating the flow of material that is delivered from the feeder conveyor'.

This invention is particularly advantageous for use in controlling vibratory feeder conveyors.

The principal object of this invention is the method and apparatus providing an accu-ratev control of' the volume ofv the material delivered by a feeder' machine.

Another object of' this invention is the4 proa vision of a feeder machine arranged toV supply an accurate-volume of material overa predetermined period of time.

Another object is the provisionY of afeeder machine arranged to'v accurately deliverl equal# volumes of material over similar periods oftime.

Another object is the-provision of a vibratory feeder machinehaving a'y relatively high volumet* ric accuracy.

Other objects and advantages appear hereinA after in the followingl description and claims.y

A practical embodiment illustrating the prinir ciples of this invention is shown in the accom-V panying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with parts" broken awayv illustrating the volumetric feeder machine comprising this invention Fig; 2 isa view in end elevation of the structureshown in Fig. r1; Y

Fig. 3 is a' sectional view of' the hopper level switch; Y K

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing thev control' circuit or" the volumetric feeder.

Fig. 5 isa schematic diagram illustrating a batch hopper and feeder arranged todeiiverrda' terial to a belt conveyor.

Fig. 6A is a diagramshowi'ng a modified controll circuit of the volumetric feeder.

Referring to Figs; 1 andvr 2I of theldrawings, lJ represents an enclosed frame in whichethe'supiply hopper lil is mounted. The dischargem'o'utfr of this hoppery is arranged'` to direct material thereA from into the' trough" lf2 of thesupply-eeder lo mounted for vibrationonV the base l`3 and opd erated bythe vibratory' motor' r4. The' base ItI iss'ecuredto the platform i5; one end of which" is pivotally supported on the resilient niemeer' It'l carried on' the'- angle bracket Iff whichx is' mounted on the frame lili The'otlier" endl of? the base' m'e'mlferl I'3 isv pivotallyattached to" the lower" end of' thea-link t8; the upper' end orwhicn is pivotallysecured to thesectorwsecureditothe Lio 2 shaft El which isiouinaled in the plate 22.' The' opera-ting handle 23 is secured to'- the sector 2i and is arranged to' be locked in various positions to the plate 22 as indicated at 2d. By rotating the handle 23 the base i3 of the eedermay be raised or lowered to any desired position tov con-L trol '.the volumetric iloW of the material from the supply hopper Il to, the sup-ply feeder conveyor trough l2.

The mouth 25v of the supply hopper ll is dis'-A posed at an angle tothe'liorisontal and when the operating handle 22s is movedto raise the vibratory feeder `the door of the trough l?? may be positioned parallel with and closely adjacent to the mount 25Vv of* the hopper; When the feeder is raised to substantially closey the mouth of the hopper, material ceases to flow from the' hopper and by adjusting theV handle 23- so as toV position the floor of'theco'nveyorv lli. a predetermined 'distance from the mouth of the' hopper; complete control of the feed of thernateria'll from the'hop-V per may' be obtained.

A vibrator 2id is mounted onl the side of the hopper for the purposeof vibrating" the sam-ei to deaerate the material*` andprovideapositive uni; form flovv of the material from the hopperV Hf.

A frame 2'7 isl mounted adjacent the frame lo" and is provided with a batch hopper 23'4 arranged to receive the" material discharged' from vthe fee-der trough f2". The batch hopper 23 is cornparati'vely" small in volume to' that of the supply hopper H; A norx'nallyclosed hopper level switch 30 is supported above and" to one side' of the hatch hopper 2'8'; and isiprovidedwith a depending a `3tu ating paddle member ?"l that extends down into phranf 35'. Ther :perimeter of the diaphragm is purpose4 ofcarrying thespacer post members llt'L which are' secured onthe inside-ofthe diaphragm 35 by'means' of thebolts lil Which-pass through the diaphragm and' are fastened to the'J lug 3s. The bolts 41 are'arranged to support the innerl endof' the leaf'sprng 42, theouter end of whichV is secured to the bolts 32" and 33* as indicated at 3 43 and 44. Intermediate of the bolts 32 and 33 the leaf spring 42 is arranged to carry the mechanical contact plate member 45 which will engage and depress the switch p-in 46 mounted in the switch member 41 and open an electrical contact when pressure is exerted on the diaphragm, causing the leaf spring 42 to iiex. The switch member 41 is supported on the free end of the leaf spring 48 the other end of which is secured by the bolt 48 to the bracket member 58 which in turn is fastened to the back of the case 31 by the bolts 5|. The upper end of the bracket 58. is provided with an outwardly and downwardly eX- tending arm 52 arranged to engage the free end of the leaf spring 48 to limit the extent of the outward position of the switch 41. The switch 41 may be constructed toeither open or close an electrical circuit or in some instances performs both functions.

In operation when the paddle 3| is moved to the right in Fig. 3 the diaphragm 35 becomes iiexed, causing the plate 45 to engage and depress the switch pin 46 and operate the switch. Further movement of the paddle 3| to the right merely ilexes the leaf spring 48 and moves the switch 41 inwardly until the plate 45 engages the stop 52 of the bracket 50.

The hopper level switch 38 may be adjusted vertically along the bracket 28 as shown in Fig. 2 to raise or lower the paddle 3| within the batch hopper 28 and thereby provide different selected volumes of material to be handled by the same apparatus.

The batch hopper 28 is arranged to discharge material into the feeder trough 53 of the distribution feeder 54. The feeder trough 53 is supported for vibration on the base 55 and is operated by the vibratory motor 56. The base 55 of .the distribution feeder 54 is supported on the resilient feet 51 which in turn are mounted on brackets 58 carried by the frame 21.

The conveyor trough 53 of the distribution feeder 54 is arranged to feed material for any desired purpose. However as shown in the drawings a vortex type solution pot 68 is arranged to receive the material from the feeder 54 which is re-discharged from the lower end thereof to the delivery pipe 6I. A nozzle 62 is arranged to supply a stream of liquid to the pot 60, the stream issuing therefrom being against the side of the pot to provide a swirling action, the liquid becoming thoroughly mixed with and carrying the material fed from the dis--r tribution feeder 54 to form a solution vthat is dis charged through the pipe 6I,

Referring to the wiring diagram in Fig. 4, 63 and 64 represent a suitable source of alternating electric current supply for operating the motor I4 of the feeder I9, the vibrator 26 and the motor 56 of the distribution feeder 54. When the line switch 65 is closed current flows from the supply line 63 through the switch blade 66, the line 61 to the timer 68 and returns through the line 69, the switch blade 18 to the return circuit line 64. When the timer 68 is thus energized after a pre determined time it will close its contact 1 I, causing the current to flow from the line 61 through the coil 12 of the relay 13 and return through the line 14, switch 1|, the line 69, switch blade I8v and to the return circuit line 64. After the timeri 66 closes its contact 1I to energize the relay 13 the contact 1I again opens the circuit but the relay 13 remains energized through a circuit manI tained by the switch 30 which forms a stick or holding circuit for the relay 13 through the line directed downwardly fia 4 49. With line switch 65 closed current ows through the line 61 to the timer 15, the line 16, the normally closed contact 11 of the relay 13, the line 69 and the switch blade 18 and return circuit line 64.

Let is be assumed that the timer 68 is a fifteen minute timer and the timer 15 is a one minute timer. Thus the latter timer will function to close its switch 18 before the former timer closes its switch 1I. Upon the closing of the switch 18 current flows from the line 63 through the switch blade 66, the line 81 through the motor 56 of the distribution feeder 54 and thence through the line 19, the rheostat 88, the line 6I, rectifier 82, line 83, the timer switch '58, the line 16, the nor* mally closed contact 11, relay 13, the line 69, switch blade 18 to fthe return circuit line 64. Upon energizing the distribution feeder 54 the latter will operate commencing the discharge of the material from the batch hopper 28 to the pot 68.

The distribution feeder 54 will continue to discharge portions of the material from the batch hopper 28 at one minute intervals until the fifteen minute timer 88 closes its contact 1I to open the normally closed contact 11 upon energizing relay 13. The distribution feeder 54 is adjusted to convey the material from the batch hopper 28 at such a rate as to completely empty the batch hopper 28 at a short interval of time before the completion of the fifteen minute cycle of the timer 68. If the distribution feeder is not set to completely empty the batch hopper within the selected time cycle of the timer 68 the material supplied will not conform to the predetermined amount of material required.

The distribution feeder 54 will continue to operate until after the :passage of a predetermined setting of the timer 68, which in this instance would be fifteen minutes. When the timer 88 functions to close the switch 1I and energize the relay 13 the circuit of the distribution feeder 54 is opened by the contact 11 of the relay 'i3 and the contacts 86 and 81 are closed. The distribution feeder thus ceases to operate, and upon the closing of the contacts 86 and 81 current flows from the line 63 to the switch blade 66, the line 61, the rectifier 88, the line 88, the rheostat 88, and line SI to the motor I4 of the supply feeder I8 and returns through the line 92, contact 86 of relay 13, line 69, switch blade 18 to the return circuit line 64, thus energizing the motor I4 of the supply feeder I9 and cause the material to iiow from the supply hopper I along the feeder trough I2 intothe batch hopper 28. This batch feed ordinarily requires a relatively short period of time. At the same time the current flows from the line 61 through the rheostat 83, the line S4 to the coil of the vibrator 26 and returns to the line 92, :the relay contact 86 and line 68 to operate the vibrator 25 and maintain uniform flow conditions of the material when discharging from the supply hopper Il.

As the supply feeder I9 continues to deliver material to the hopper 28, the material piles up on the conveyor floor of the distribution feeder 54, which checks any further ow out the batch hopper 28 onto the trough 53, -causin'g the batch hopper to fill until the volume of the material creates a suicient pressure to move the paddle 3| to the right and actuate the level switch 38 to open the circuit of the motor I4.

Thus the hopper switch 38 will function to de-energize the coil 12 of the relay 13 when the batch hopper 28 contains the selected predetermined volume of the material. Upon de-energizing the: relay 131th@ contacts 85 and 8l' open to interruptthe circuits off the motor I4 and the hopper vibratorV 26. l

When the relay 13' becomes cle-energized it closes its contact ll, thereby again energizing the timer i5 which functions toproduce periodic. impulses energizingthe motor-56 of the distribution feeder 5 to discharge the material from the batch hopper 231 tothe pot 6c as previously described. The operation of the distribution feed-r er 54 is preferably set to feed the material from: the batch hopper 28 over a series 'of short. periods of time, whereas the supply feeder# Il!) is arranged to supply the batch hopper 218 in a rela tively short period or time. Thusboth feedersy function alternately during a predetermined; cy cle to intermittently feed the 'material tothe pot- Bu.

The feeding machine illustrated in Fig. 5 is the same as that shown in Fig. l bult arranged to handle a greaterY amount offmateriall andl the batch hopper t28; is. materially larger than theI batch hopper 2-8. The supply hopper I It is. provided. with the. gate: val-ve 925* in place of adjust ing therelative position of the supply feeder 1ML The distribution feeder |5511; feeds. the material from the hopper i12-8. tothe belt conveyor 9E, the upper flight of which is supported on the rollers 911. v

When usine largek hatch horrorsA the level switch [.30 may be positioned within the batch hopper 525 thereby dispensing with the. paddle. switcllA is arranged to beA moved to different eleyations within the batch hopper to enable the deposit or difierentv selected volumes` of ma,- teral to b e handledpby the same apparatus in the same manner as that shown'in regard. tov the switch. 30` in Fis. 2. y

the. material to be handled is. of the char utter that readily flushes it. is, desirable to retain a sufiicient residue ofthe material in the bottom of the batch hopper as indicated in Fig. 6. The amour-1li. of residue is suicient' to close the.` bottm ofv the hopper and when the material is added thereto it will notv flush Qllt-over the distributing conveyor trough The residue of material or heel is maintained by employing the second level switch 98 adjustably supported from the switch |353. The switch 9S is a normally open switch similar to the switches 30 and 130 and is maintained in its closed position by the pressure of the material acting on its diaphragm.v When vthe material is drained away from the diaphragm of the switch 98 it is arranged to open the circuit of the distribution feeder motor and may be placed in the circuit of Fig. 4 on either side of this motor. Thus by the operation of the limit level switches 98 and |38 equal volumes of material may be repeatedly fed from the batch hopper.

If it is desired to operate the distribution feed of either machine so as to quickly empty the batch hopper in place of feeding the separate batches of material in spaced intervals of time within the limits of the period of the timer 68, the timer 'l5 may be shunted out of the circuit by connecting the adjacent ends of the lines 15 and 83 as illustrated in Fig. 6. With this arrangement the distribution feeder will continuously operate to discharge the batch within the batch hopper and when the cycle of the timer 68 has been completed the relay 'I2 is again energized and the supply feeder operates to fill the batch hopper until the upper lever switch is engaged by a sufficient' amount of the material to function and open theI circuit of the relay '|=2. When the relay 12 becomes dea-energized the dis-.- tri-bution feeder becomes energized to remove and convey the' material from the batch hopper un til the level of' the material therein is no longery effective on the switch 98', which then opens the circuit of the distribution feeder: moto;` and the.i apparatus then lies` dormant until the completionof the next cycle of operation of the timer 8B. A very accuratevolumetric. feed of material is produced by this apparatus for the periodsv of operation of' the timer 68.

I' claim:

l. In a granular material feeding apparatus, the combination of a. feeder conveyor positioned to deliver the material be fed, a batch hopper for supplying the feeder conveyor andi the dis-l charge of' which is controlled by the latter, a supply conveyor positioned to deliver the mae. terial toy the. batch hopper, and means responsiveto the volume of material in the batch hopper and including a timer for consecutively control'- lingthe ope-ration of both conveyors alternately.

2. In a granular material feeding apparatus', the combination of a feeder conveyor positioned to deliver the material to be fed, a batch hopper for supplying the material to the feeder conveyorr and the dischargel ofl which is controlled by the latter, a supply conveyor positioned toy dem4 liver thel material to the batch hopper, and means within the batchy hopper responsive to predetermined limits oi" volume the loatchv hopper and including a timer for consecutively controlling l the starting of they feederconveyor to deliver a predetermined amount of material and to stopthe feeder conveyor and operate the supplycon veyor to :replenishv the material fed therefrom.

3. In a granular material feedingapparatus,

y the combination of a feeder conveyor positioned to deliver material to be fed', a hopper for sup-- plying the material to the feedercon-veyor andA the discharge of which is controlled by the` latter, a supply conveyor positioned todeliver ma teria/l to the hopper, timerA means repeatedlyinitiating the operation of the supply conveyor, andv means responsive to a predetermined: volume in thei hopper for alternately and consecutively stopping the supply conveyor and for starting the feeder conveyor to deliver the predetermined volume of material.

4. A volumetric feeding apparatus for granular material comprising an electrically operated supply conveyor, a batch hopper positioned to receive material from the supply conveyor, 'an electrically operated feeder conveyor positioned to receive material from the batch hopper and deliver the same, a relay having normally closed and normally open contacts when deenergized, a circuit to supply electrical energy through the normally open contacts to operate the supply conveyor, a circuit to supply electrical energy through the normally closed contacts to operate the feeder conveyor, a timer having contacts connected in a circuit to energize said relay, and switch means responsive to a volume of material in the batch hopper and connected in the relay energizing'circuit to deenergize said relay in response to a predetermined quantity of material delivered to said batch hopper.

5. A volumetric feeding apparatus for granular material comprising an electrically operated supply conveyor, a batch hopper positioned to receive material from the supply conveyor, an electrically operated feeder conveyor positioned to receive material from the batch hopper and deliver the same, a relay having normally closed and normally Iopen contacts when deenergized, a circuit to supply electrical energy through the normally open contacts to operate the supply conveyor, a circuit to supply electrical energy through the normally closed contacts to operate the feeder conveyor, a timer having contacts connected in a circuit to energize said relay, switch means responsive to a volume of material in the batch hopper and connected in the relay energizing circuit to deenergize said relay in response to a predetermined volume of material delivered to said batch hopper, and a second timer having contacts connected in the feeder circuit to` periodically interrupt the operation of said feeder in periods shorter than the periods of the rst timer.

6. `A volumetric feeding apparatus for granular material comprising an electrically operated supply conveyor, a bath hopper positioned to receive material from the supply conveyor, an electrically operated feeder conveyor positioned to receive material from the batch hopper and deliver the same, a relay having normally closed and normally open contacts when deenergized, a circuit to supply electrical energy through the normally open contacts to operate the supply conveyor, a circuit to supply electrical energy through the normally closed contacts to operate the feeder conveyor, a timer having contacts connected in a circuit to energize said relay, switch means responsive to a maximum volume of material in the batch hopper and connected in the relay energizing circuit to deenergize said relay in response to a predetermined volume of material delivered to said batch hopper, and second switch means responsive to a minimum volume of material in the batch hopper and connected in the circuit of said feeder conveyor to deenergize said feeder conveyor in response to a predetermined minimum volume of material remaining in said batch hopper.

7. A volumetric feeding apparatus for granular material comprising an electrically operated supply conveyor, a batch hopper positioned to receive material from the supply conveyor, an electrically operated feeder conveyor positioned to receive material from the batch hopper and deliver the same, aV circuit energizing and de energizing means responsive to a maximum volume of material in the batch hopper to deenergize the supply conveyor and to energize the feeder conveyor to discharge the batch hopper, and a second circuit energizing and deenere gizing means responsive to a minimum volume in the batch hopper to deenergize the feeder conveyor and energize the supply conveyor to replenish the maximum volume of material in the batch hopper.

8. A volumetric feeding apparatus for granular material comprising an electrically operated supply conveyor, a batch hopper positioned to receive material from the supply conveyor, an electrically operated feeder conveyor positioned to receive material from the batch hopper and deliver the same, a circuit energizing and deenergizing means responsive to a maximum volume of material in the batch hopper to deenergize the supply conveyor and to energize the feeder conveyor, and a circuit timing means to reenergize the supply conveyor and deenergize the feeder conveyor after the lapse of a predetermined period of time suflicient for the feeder conveyor to empty the batch hopper.

GROVE D. ALVORD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 308,001 Sommer Nov. 11, 1884 925,390 Royer June 15, 1909 1,372,768 Mott Mar. 29, 1921 1,610,564 McLaughlin Dec. 14, 1926 2,101,2 7 Vogel-Jorgensen Dec. 7, 1937 2,125,898 Dykstra Aug. 9, 1938 2,276,382 Francis Mar. 17, 1942 2,340,030 Weyandt Jan. 25, 1944 2,381,505 Lindholm Aug. 7, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 856,871 France Aug. 13, 1946 487,099 Great Britain June 15, 1938 661,667 Germany June 23, 1938 

